Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.9, No.1, pp. 111-114, 1986

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

A NEW CLASSIFICATION FOR THE ORGANIC COMPONENTS OF KEROGEN: DISCUSSION(1)

Prasanta K. Mukhopadhyay(2)

(1) Publication authorized by the Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin.

(2) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Box X, Austin, Texas 78713, USA.

Massoud and Kinghorn (1985) have proposed a classification for the organic components of kerogen. Their classification is not new, but rather is a modification of that of Bujak et al. (1977). The formation of insoluble organic matter (kerogen) is connected with the complex interplay of organic matter transport and removal from its life habitat, the Eh-condition of the depositional system, and the effect of fungal or bacterial degradation. Because any kerogen classification must deal with this complex process and the influence of maturation at later stages, it is obvious that controversies will arise among different organic petrologists at different points of observation. Alternative views on several aspects of this paper are therefore presented.